The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is a beautiful coastal city perched next to the majestic Bay of Bengal. With a rich history and culture, the ‘Detroit of India’, was added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network list for its rich musical traditions and walking through its long winding roads unveils houses boasting of traditional South Indian lifestyles that have been kept in place for decades.
The heritage tours in Chennai takes you through the past of this vibrant city and its impact on its present. From touching upon food such as the Mulligatawny Soup which originated in Chennai and became a global favorite during the British colonial rule to taking you through Alamparai Fort, Valluvar Kottam, the Government Museum and more, the heritage tours in Chennai reveal the heart and soul of this urban hub in Tamil Nadu.
When we visit a region, we often enjoy things as they are rather than learning about how it came about. The heritage tours in Chennai offer you a chance to look below the surface of this enchanting seaside city so that your travel experiences are more satisfying and fulfilling.
Chennai is a hub of culture, music, food and historical places that will leave you coming back for more. For history buffs, this centre of the best Tamil Nadu has to offer, will take you to beautiful temples, monuments, old forts, authentic South Indian architecture that has withstood the passage of time and even the popular haunts that famous writers and poets used to frequent.
Browse through our list of the top heritage spots to visit in Chennai and take a step into the past of this mesmerizing port city!
If you love the way history has shaped the present and the stories of our ancestors, Dakshinachitra takes you into Chennai’s rich and glorious past. A living-history museum dedicated to the South Indian heritage and culture, Dakshinachitra consists of a series of ancient houses and depicts the life pattern of...
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Known historically as White Town, Fort St. George is the first English/British Fortress in India and was constructed in 1639. The fort heralded future settlements and trading activity in what was previously an uninhabited region.
Around the fort are key places of historical interest such as St Mary’s Church, one of...
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If you’re a book lover, you know that books are portals to new worlds. By turning the pages of a book, you can travel without moving from your spot as your imagination takes you to beautiful destinations and stories.
Connemara Public Library is a book lover’s paradise and is one of...
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If you love the lyrical composition of poetry and have a bunch of poetry books stacked up at home, Valluvar Kottam is sure to tickle your love of history and poetry. Dedicated to the classical Tamil poet philosopher Valluvar, it is the city’s biggest Tamil cultural centre. The monument consists...
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When it comes to history, the best place to explore it in any region has to be within a museum where care has been taken to curate the most important relics from the past.
The Government Museum or Madras Museum is the second oldest museum in India and is the tenth...
Read more
If you love the way history has shaped the present and the stories of our ancestors, Dakshinachitra takes you into Chennai’s rich and glorious past. A living-history museum dedicated to the South Indian heritage and culture, Dakshinachitra consists of a series of ancient houses and depicts the life pattern of...
Read more
Known historically as White Town, Fort St. George is the first English/British Fortress in India and was constructed in 1639. The fort heralded future settlements and trading activity in what was previously an uninhabited region.
Around the fort are key places of historical interest such as St Mary’s Church, one of...
Read more
If you’re a book lover, you know that books are portals to new worlds. By turning the pages of a book, you can travel without moving from your spot as your imagination takes you to beautiful destinations and stories.
Connemara Public Library is a book lover’s paradise and is one of...
Read more
If you love the lyrical composition of poetry and have a bunch of poetry books stacked up at home, Valluvar Kottam is sure to tickle your love of history and poetry. Dedicated to the classical Tamil poet philosopher Valluvar, it is the city’s biggest Tamil cultural centre. The monument consists...
Read more
When it comes to history, the best place to explore it in any region has to be within a museum where care has been taken to curate the most important relics from the past.
The Government Museum or Madras Museum is the second oldest museum in India and is the tenth...
Read more
Located on the Bay of Bengal, this beautiful seaside capital draws you in with its vibrant, energetic South Indian culture. Chennai in Tamil Nadu is more than its iconic Marina beach and for tourists ready to discover the many shades of their travel destination, it can open up hidden secrets that will enrich your journey to this coastal region.
With long golden beaches, seaside markets filled with fish sellers calling out their wares in cheerful voices, stone temples embedded with rock art and majestic sculptures, and food that carries with its flavours, the taste of this state; sightseeing in Chennai will leave you spellbound.
Travel to the multi-domed Thousand Lights Mosque, a place of religious worship that lights up the surrounding area with different neon lights so that you feel like you’re looking at a sparkling gem. Sightseeing in Chennai isn’t complete without making your way to the one-of-a-kind Marina Beach, the longest beach in India and one of the longest in the world. Slurp on an ice-cream cone sold beachside and take in the blues of the ocean, as its waves crash gently onto the shore.
Other great spots for sightseeing in Chennai include Elliot’s Beach, Dakshinachitra, Ashtalakshmi Temple, Valluvar Kottam and for film lovers, MGR Film City! The list goes on and its going to be tough to fit all the spectacular wonders of Chennai in this page, but we’re going to try our best.
Scroll through our list of the top places to visit in Chennai and discover the tiny special elements about it that make these spots a must visit.
Chennai, near the Bay of Bengal is a bustling coastal city hub and has been nicknamed the ‘Detroit of India’ thanks to its numerous automobile industries around the city. However, other than walking the winding roads of Chennai or spending the day at the beach, the outdoors of this bustling urban hub can soothe your heart and soul. From thickets of evergreen forests, craggy terrains and low-lying hills that offer a peek of the blue ocean waters in the distance, camping in Chennai can give you a bite of the richness of nature that Tamil Nadu has to offer.
Spend a night under the stars with the trickling sound of waterfalls in the background at Nagalapuram. You can trek through the lovely forest trails or enjoy an outdoors picnic besides a bubbling stream. Camping in Chennai can also be done at the iconic Tada Falls, with refreshing rock pools at different points of the trekking routes to keep you going to the falls. If you’re ready for a road trip as you bop to your favorite summer songs, travel to Yercaud and take in the mesmerizing view of clouds touching the tips of the surrounding hills.
Camping in Chennai isn’t complete without setting your tent besides the majestic dark swells of the Bay of Bengal and Mahabalipuram is a top spot that allows you to take in seaside vistas outside your chosen campsite.
Pack up your trusty hiking boots, tent equipment and your camera as you set off on an adventure in the wild outdoors of Chennai!
Traditional South Indian hospitality puts the guest first, ensuring that all their needs are met, from cooking food that will match their preferences, to setting up rooms that give you a peaceful, cozy slumber under the inky black sky. The Homestays in Chennai give you a taste of the hospitality Tamil Nadu is famous for and leaves you feeling relaxed as you turn on your vacation mode and forget about hectic work schedules or responsibilities at home.
Homestays in Chennai bring out the wonderful simplicity and comfort of living in an authentic Tamilian home. Why head out to a restaurant when you can relish the dishes Chennai is known for, made by your hosts who have lived there their whole lives? Sink your teeth into Idli and Sambhar, Dosa, Uttapams or delicious banana Paniyarams, flavoured with the spices that are well known in the region and give the cuisine a unique taste.
The homestays in Chennai also give you a chance to learn about this lovely coastal city with stories from your hosts to regale you during the long evenings. As a bonus, you’ll also get the insiders scoop on the best sightseeing spots, eateries and beaches to visit during your stay! Immerse yourself in homely hospitality at one of these lovely, spacious bungalows.